Review: Fatboy Slim at Westonbirt Arboretum
Posted on: 15 Jul 2026Heading to Westonbirt Arboretum for Forest Live, expectations were fairly simple, enjoy some of Fatboy Slim's biggest hits, indulge in a healthy dose of nostalgia and, hopefully, survive one of the hottest days of the year. With temperatures soaring throughout the day, there was genuine concern that the heatwave might overshadow the evening. Thankfully, Norman Cook had other ideas.
Westonbirt once again proved what a special venue it is. The walk from the car park is a little longer than at your average concert but wandering through the beautiful woodland makes it feel like part of the experience rather than an inconvenience. The arena itself was impressively well organised, with plenty of toilets, water stations and bars meaning queues were short throughout the evening. Even leaving afterwards was refreshingly painless, with traffic moving freely and the car park clearing far quicker than expected.
The one thing nobody could control was the weather. Queuing to enter the arena in the blazing sunshine, it was obvious many people were struggling with the heat, and the support acts understandably found it difficult to generate much energy from a crowd seeking shade wherever possible. Fortunately, just before Fatboy Slim took to the stage, the sun disappeared behind Westonbirt's towering trees, instantly making conditions far more comfortable while providing a spectacular natural backdrop.
From the moment he appeared, Fatboy Slim brought an infectious energy that never let up. Despite the lingering heat, he remained upbeat throughout, constantly engaging with the audience and keeping the atmosphere buzzing. His set expertly blended his own iconic tracks with nostalgic dancefloor classics, including House of Pain's Jump Around, ensuring there was something for everyone. Unsurprisingly, Praise You produced one of the loudest singalongs of the night, while Right Here, Right Now and The Rockafeller Skank kept the crowd on their feet, with Westonbirt's towering trees providing a spectacular backdrop to the performance.
The production elevated the experience even further. The huge video screens were packed with clever visuals, but the standout feature was the brilliantly animated famous faces appearing to sing along, presumably created using AI. It was humorous, creative and perfectly matched the playful nature of the show.
The crowd reflected the event itself: predominantly thirty and forty-somethings reliving the soundtrack of their youth, mixed with plenty of families introducing the next generation to one of Britain's greatest DJs. We felt hilariously underprepared without camping chairs while others settled in with elaborate picnics – one group was even sharing a quiche. Yet, once the music started, everyone was on their feet, seemingly forgetting the sweltering temperatures.
One particularly memorable moment came during The Rockafeller Skank. It's a song our seven-year-old asks us to play almost every time we're in the car, so hearing it live together made the evening feel even more special.
This was my second time seeing Fatboy Slim live, and it reinforced exactly why he remains such a popular live act. Forest Live at Westonbirt is a superb setting for outdoor concerts, and while the heat took the edge off the early part of the evening, the headline performance more than compensated. A fantastic night of music, nostalgia and atmosphere in one of the country's most unique concert venues.
Reviewed by Josh Duddridge on behalf of 365Bristol